Grain-shocker.



J. MOCORMICK.

GRAIN SHOUKEE.

APPLIOA'IION FILED JAN.29,1906.

962,656, Patented June 28, 1910.

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5 7 I 3 flwyfi ANDREW u. GRAHAM c0, FHOTD-LIMOGRAFNiRS WASHINGTON. ac

J. MGOORMICK.

GRAIN SHOGKER.

APPLIOA'IION FILED JAN. 29', 1906.

Patented June 28, 1910.

6 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ANDREW a Grmmw cu PHQTO-UWOGHAWEHS WASHING'YON. o. c

J. MQCORMIGK.

GRAIN SHOCKER.

APPLIOAIION FILED JAN. 29, 1906.

Patented June 28, 1910.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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ANDRE?! u GRANAM c0 VHOTQ-LITNOGRAFNERS. WASHINGTON. 0,0.

J. MCCORMICK.

GRAIN SHOGKER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 1906.

Patented. June 28, 1910.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ANDREW 5v mumw cov FHOTO LITHOGRAPHERS WASHINGTON. a. c

J. MOGORMICK.

GRAIN SHOCKER.

- APPLICATION FILED JAN.29,1906.

962,656,, 7 Patented June 28, 1910.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

ANDREW e, 5mm 4:0v w i-O.1 1THOGRAFHENS, wAsmsmon. n. c.

J. MOCORMICK.

GRAIN SHOUKER.

APPLIOAIION FILED JAN. 29, 1906.

Patented June 28, 1910.

6 SHEBTSSHEET 6.

JOHN MCCORMICK, 0F NORTI-IVILLE, SOUTH DAKOTA.

GRAIN-SHOCKER.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 28, 1910.

Application filed January 29, 1906. Serial No. 298,378.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MCCORMICK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Northville, in the county of Spink and State of SouthDakota, have invented a certain new and useful Grain-Shocker, of whichthe following is a specification.

My object is to provide a machine of simple, durable and inexpensiveconstruction, designed to be attached to and advanced over a fieldbeside a grain binder and to receive from the binder bundles of grain toform said bundles into a shock and to de posit the shock upon the fieldin an upright position without the necessity of handling the bundles orbinding the shock together with twine.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combinationof the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated areattained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claimsand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows afront elevation of the complete machine with a portion of a grain binderin position adjacent thereto. Fig. 2 shows a top or plan view of same.Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of the shocker. Fig. t shows an enlarged,detail view partly in section, illustrating the means for con veyingbundles of grain to the shocker platform. Fig. 5 shows a detail sideview illustrating a part of the shocker platftu'm and means forreleasing it to discharge the shock. The dotted lines show the part ofthe shocker platform in its lowered position. Fig. 6 shows a rear endelevation of the shocker platform and connected parts, the dotted linesillustrating the bundle retaining device in its extended position. Fig.7 shows an enlarged detail side view of one of the shock forming platesand connected parts. Fig. 8 shows a side view of same. The dotted linesillustrate the position of same when discharging a shock. Fig. 9 shows adetail front elevation illustrating the means for carrying the platformthat supports the shock forming plates and shows the platform in itsuppermost position. Fig. 10 shows a detail plan view of the means forautomatically reversing the movement of the carriage that supports theshock forming plates, the dotted lines illustrating the parts in achanged position. Fig. 11 shows a detail view illustrating the means forautomatically actuating the bundle tilting platform to convey bundlesfrom the carrier tube to the shocking platform. Fig. 12 shows anenlarged perspective view of the track for supporting the carriage. Fig.13 shows a detail, perspective view of the upper rear end of the machineframe. Fig. 14: shows a detail, perspective view of one of the uprightsides with the hinged side piece connected therewith. Fig. 15 shows adetail, perspective view of the carriage for supporting the shockforming device. Fig. 16 shows a detail, sectional view taken on the line16-16 of Fig. 11, and Fig. 17 shows a detail, sectional view taken onthe line 1717 of Fig. 10.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

I have used the reference numeral 10 to in-' dicate the machine framewhich is supported upon an axle 11 carrying a traction wheel 12. At therear of said frame are the caster wheels 13.

At one side of the frame 10 is a bundle receiving platform 15 designedto receive bundles discharged from the grain binder. At its forward end,this platform 15 connects with a bundle advancing tube 16 which tubeextends forwardly, then laterally and discharges rearwardly near thecenter of the machine frame. The said platform 15 and tube 16 areprovided with the longitudinal slots 17, for purposes hereinafter madeclear. I provide means for conveying bundles to the discharge end of thetube 16 as follows: The numeral 18 indicates an extension of the axle 11and this extension is provided with a beveled gear wheel 19. Supportedon the machine frame by means of a suitable support is an upright shaft20 having a beveled gear wheel 21 in mesh with the beveled gear wheel 19so that the shaft 20 is continuously rotated during the advance of themachine over the field. At the top of the shaft 20 is a bracket 22 inwhich a number of arms 28 are pivoted to hang downwardly and each arm isprovided with tines 24 at its lower end. Fixed to the machine frameadjacent to the tube 16 is an irregular track or guide 25, supported bybraces 25 and shaped to engage the arms 23 and as said arms are revolvedby the shaft 20 to direct them in such manner that their tines 24 willproject through the slots 17 of the platform 15 and engage bundles ofgrain resting on said platform. Said tines will traverse the entirelength of said slots 17 and carry the bundles to the discharge end ofthe tube 16 and then withdraw from the slots and enter them again in theplatform 15. At the discharge end of the tube 16, the sides 26 of thetube are enlarged and arranged vertically, and parallel with each otherto form the sides of the bundle tilting platform.

When the bundles are discharged from the tubes 16, they will lie in asubstantially horizontal plane with the heads of the grain projectingtoward the front of the machine. I have provided for automaticallytilting the bundles to an upright position and forcing them outwardlythrough the sides 26 as follows: 27 indicates a flat platform slightlyinclined, when in its normal position, providcd with a hinge 28 at itsrear end to permit it to tilt to a vertical position. WVhen in itshorizontal position, this platform forms a continuation of the bottom ofthe tube 16 to receive bundles of grain therefrom. The platform isnormally held in its horizontal position by means of the contractiblecoil springs 29 fixed to the arm 30 and connected to the under surfaceof the platform 27. I provide for automatically tilting the platform asfollows: Fixed to the axle 8 is a shield disk 31 and adjacent to thedisk is a ratchet wheel 32. Hinged beneath the platform 27 is an arm 32supported in the bracket 33 and having an extension 34 extendeddownwardly and rearwardly. Pivoted to said extension is an arm 35 havingat its forward end a toothed portion 36 and a laterally extendingshoulder 37 above the toothed portion 36. 38 indicates a pin fixed tothe frame 10 and in position to be engaged by the shoulder 37 and tohold the toothed portion 36 in engagement with the ratchet wheel 32during the time the said toothed portion is passing under the pin 38,the said arm 35 is normally elevated by the spring 39. I have providedfor forcing the arm 35 against the pressure of the spring 39 and intocontact with the ratchet wheel 32 as follows: 40 indicates a leverhaving one arm projected upwardly through an opening in the platform 27and the central portion pivoted at 41 and its lower end in position toengage the arm 35. The operation of this part of the device is asfollows: Assuming that a bundle of grain is placed upon the platform 27,it Will strike the arm 40, cause it to tilt to the position shown bydotted lines in Fig. 11 which will move the arm 35 downwardly toposition in engagement with the ratchet wheel 32. This ratchet wheelwill advance in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 11 and willcarry the shoulder 37 under the pin 38 and hold the toothed portion 36in engagement with the ratchet wheel 32 until the shoulder 37 passesforwardly beyond the pin 38, whereupon the arm 35 will be free to rise.During this movement, the forward pull 1 upon the arm 35 will cause thearm 32 to raise the platform 27 to the position shown by dotted lines inFig. 11, which operation will, of course, place the bundle in an uprightposition between the sides 26 and after the arm 35 is released fromengagement with the ratchet wheel 32, the spring 29 will quickly returnthe platform 27 and connected parts to their starting position.

In the rear of the hinged platform 27 is a slanted stationary platform42 and the sides 26 above the platform 42 are provided with springingbundle retainers 43 fixed to yield and permit bundles to pass rearwardlyand to automatically spring out after said bundles have passedrearwardly to prevent them from falling forwardly on the platform 27said springing retainers each comprising a spring wire secured at itsforward end to the sides 26, and extended rearwardly and toward thecenter of the machine, and then straight laterally through said sides,as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Hinged to the rear edges of the sides 26 arethe extension sides 44 normally inclined inwardly toward each other bythe springs 45. These extension sides 44 will yield and swing apart whenbundles are forced through between them.

Erected on the frame 10 is the upright frame 46 designed to support theshock forming mechanism. Mounted on this frame 46 in a manner that willbe described hereinafter is a carriage 47 as shown in Fig. 15. Thiscarriage support-s a number of guide arms 48, which project downwardlyand have their lower ends curved outwardly as shown in Figs. 3 and 8.Said guide arms 48 are arranged substantially in a circle. Arrangedbelow the carriage 47 is a series of supporting arms 50, that supportthe shock former and are pivotally connected to the guiding brackets 51.Each guiding bracket 51 is provided with lugs 52 at its top and bottom,which slide upon the guide arms 48. By this arrangement and assumingthat the arms 50 move downwardly relative to the carriage 47, they willcarry with them all of the guide brackets 51 and said brackets will,when they strike the outwardly inclined portions of the guide rods 48 betilted outwardly at their lower ends and when the arms 50 are againelevated all of the guide brackets 51 will'be returned to their startingposition. Pivoted to each of the arms 50 is an arm 53 projectingdownwardly and inwardly toward the center of the carriage and having ashock forming plate 54 pivoted to its lower end. Each shock formingplate is provided with an arm 55 projected outwardly from its upper end.I have provided means for yieldingly holding each of the shock formingplates in proper position for forming a shock as follows: Attached toeach of the arms 55 are two rods 56, each having a spring coil 57 nearits upper end and each having an exte1 1- sion extended downwardly andfixed to the adjacent guide bracket 51, as shown in Fig. 7. These springactuated rods 56 being fixed to the arms 55 of the plates 54, serve toyieldingly hold the arms 53 to which the plates 54 are attached, totheir inner limit of movement and as bundles of grain are forced betweenthe shock forming plates, said spring rods will yield sufiiciently tohold said shock in compact form. The said spring rods 56, by beingattached to the arms 55 will hold the shock forming plates in about theposition relative to the arms 53, shown in Fig. 8. However, when theguide brackets 51 are at their lower limit of movement and the lowerends of said brackets are tilted outwardly, then the tension upon thecoils of the spring rods 56 will be relieved and said arms 53 and shockforming plates 54 will freely swing outwardly, as shown by dotted linesin Fig. 8. In practical use, this portion of my machine operates asfollows: Before there are any bundles of grain between the shock formingplates, said plates stand relatively close together, arranged in anapproximately circular form. As fast as the bundles of grain areintroduced between them, they are forced outwardly against the pressureof the spring rods 56 and hence as the shock increases in size, it willbe more tightly compressed and the bundles will be arranged in form withtheir upper ends closer together than their lower ends as required toproduce a shock with a broad base and a narrow top that will readilystand in a field and when there are sufficient number of bundles withinthe shock former, they will be supported alone by the shock formingplates, even if the shock forming platform, hereinafter described, hasbeen removed, because the bundles will all be tightly wedged between theshock forming plates, at least tight enough to support the weight of theshock, even if the shock forming platform has been removed. Then whenthe rod 49 is moved downwardly, all of the guide brackets 51 will movewith it and when their lower ends are tilted outwardly by the curvedlower ends of the guide rods 48, the tension on the springs 56 will berelieved, the shock forming plates will spread and permit the shock todrop to the ground surface.

WVhen the shock former is full, it is moved downwardly, in a mannerhereinafter described, to place the shock upon the ground surface. Thenit is desirable to quickly move the shock former rearwardly and upwardly, so that it will disengage from the shock in time so as not totilt the shock over. To accomplish this movement of the shock former, Ihave provided two arms 58 and 59 attached to the carriage 47 andcarrying rollers 60, which are supported on an inclined track 61. Thistrack supports the weight of the shock former when in position forforming a shock and also when it is traveling upwardly and rearwardly.An upright 62 supports the arms 50 of the shock former and passesthrough the carriage 47 and has a roller 63 at its top and a lug 64 nearits lower end above the frame 46. This upright62 also supports a shortsquare shaft 65 as clearly shown in Fig. 10 which is slidingly mountedtherein and which is provided on one end with a roller 66. A clutchmember 67 is fixed to the square shaft 65 and an extensible coil spring68 mounted on the shaft engages said clutch member 67 and the adjacentside of the upright 62 and the said clutch member 67 is normally held bysaid springs 68 in engagement with the clutch member 69 which isslidingly mounted on the shaft 65 which extends into the shaft 65, asshown in Fig.

17, and which is part of the segmental sprocket wheel 70. The smoothface of this sprocket wheel is shown by solid lines in Fig. 10 and thetoothed face is shown by dotted lines in said figure and is also shownby solid lines in Fig. 9. The arrangement is such that when the shaft 65is at one limit of its movement, the clutch 67 thereon will disengagefrom the clutch 69, and when said shaft is released, the spring 68 willforce the clutch 67 into engagement with the clutch 69. Fixed to theaxle 11 is a sprocket wheel 71 connected by a sprocket chain 72 with asprocket wheel 73 fixed to a shaft 74 mounted in the frame 46, as shownin Fig. 1. This shaft 74 is designed to drive a sprocket wheel 75 whichin turn imparts motion to a sprocket chain 76 which chain is passedaround the wheels 77 and 78, thus arranging the said sprocket chain 76in a substantially triangular form. Supported at the top of the frame isa track hanger 79 having a short track 80 thereon provided with apivoted switch point 81, which track is designed to engage and supportthe roller 63. Mounted adjacent to the track 61 is an arm 82 bearing aguide lug 83, which lug is so arranged and disposed relative to theroller 66 that when the said roller 66 is being carried upwardly withthe carriage on the track 61, it will strike the lug 83 as shown inFigs. 3 and 10 and cause the clutch members 67 and 69 to disengage fromeach other allowing the segmental sprocket to turn over and disenga efrom the chain 76. The roller 63 then strikes the switch point 81 andpasses above it, so that the upright 62 will be carried by the roller 63on the track 80 until the roller 66 strikes a lug 84. This will permitthe segmental sprocket wheel 70 to turn far enough to disengage from thesprocket chain 76. When this occurs, the lug 64 on the upright 62 willstrike upon the slide bolt 85 and thus support the upright in itselevated position with the sprocket wheel 70 freed from the sprocketchain, then before the carriage may again descend the slide bolt 85 mustbe withdrawn to clear the lug 64. This slide bolt 85 is provided with aspring 86 normally holding it in position to be engaged by the lug G4and this bolt is manually operated to disengage from the lug 64 when itis desired to discharge a shock of grain from the shock former. Thisbolt 85 may be manually operated by having the operator grasp it,'or hemay attach a rope to it for convenience in operating it. In practicaluse i the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 3, that is inposition where the shock former has just discharged a shock. Then thenext movement of the device will be that of the entire shock formerreturning to its position for receiving a new shock. This isaccomplished as follows: The chain 7 6 will be Operated to move thecarriage 47 upwardly and rearwardly until the roller 66 strikes the lug83. This will cause the sprocket wheel 70 to disengage from the lowerpart of the chain 76, turn over a part revolution and again engage thetop portion of the chain 76 and the roller 63 will travel on the track80 forwardly to the lug 84, whereupon the sprocket wheel 70 will againbe turned a part revolution and be disengaged from the sprocket chain.The carriage 47 will move downwardly and forwardly on the track 61,while the roller 63 is traveling forwardly on the track 80 and whenthecarriage 47 is returned to its forward limit of movement, the upright 62will be retained at its upper limit in position to hold the shockforming plates in position to receive bundles of grain and the partswill remain in this position until the operator pulls the slide bolt 85,as before described whereupon the upright 62 and the guide brackets con-45 nected therewith will descend by gravity on their guide rods toposition, shown'in Fig. 3 with the sprocket wheel 70 in engagement withthe lower part of chain 76. Hinged to the sides of the machine 50 frameare the shock supporting leaves 87 to swing downwardly and outwardly. Inone position, these leaves stand in a substantially horizontal positionbeneath the shock forming plates and where they will receive .55 bundlesfrom the tilting platform 27. They are normally held in their horizontalposition by means of the rods 88 pivoted thereto and extended upwardlyand attached to the arms 89, which arms are fixed to a shaft 90,

.60 mounted in the machine frame and provided at its central portionwith a crank arm 91. This crank arm is in the path of a hook 92 on thepart as shown in Fig. 5. Hence when the part 50 is in its elevatedposition, the hook 92 engages the crank arm 91 and holds it in theposition shown by solid lines in Fig. 5, thus supporting the leaves 87in their horizontal position. Then when the hook 92 descends with theshock former, it will disengage from the crank arm 91, thus permittingthe leaves 87 to drop by gravity .where they will remain until the hook92 has moved with the shock former on its track and has returned toposition in engagement 91 will be pushed outwardly from the positionshown by dotted lines in Fig. 5 to the position shown by solid lines insaid Fig. 5, elevating the hinged leaves.

with this part of the device and assuming It is desirable to preventbundles of grain from passing beyond the platform 42 during the timethat the hinged leaves 87 are lowered and I accomplish thisautomatically as follows: .an arm 93 having a pointed rod 94 pivoted toit and passed through a guide 95 on the 'machine frame.

Fixed to one of the leaves 87 is The pointed end of this rod 94 isdesigned to pass through one of the hinged side pieces 44 when thehinged leaf 87 is in its lowered position and thereby prevent bundles ofgrain from passing from the platform 42 until the hinged leaves 87 areagain elevated and the pointed rod 94 .withdrawn. In Fig. 6 of thedrawings the pointed rod 94 is shown by solid lines in its withdrawnposition and by dotted lines in position extended through one of thehinged side pieces 44 to prevent grain from passing beyond the platform32.

In practical operation and assuming that my improved shocking device wasbeing advanced over a field at the side of a binder,

.obviously bundles of grain from the binder would be discharged to theplatform 15 and from thence carried to the chute 16 to the tiltingplatform 27. This platform will automatically stand the bundles in anupright position upon the platform 42 between the spring actuated sides44. From this latform they will be pushed off by the fo lowing bundlesto the shock former comprising the hinged leaves 87 and the shockforming plates. These shock forming plates will expand as bundles aresuccessively forced between them and they will give shape to the shocks,compressing the tops thereof and permitting the butts thereof to expandto form a broad base. WVhen a sufficient number of bundles have beenforced within the shock former, the operator releases the slide bolt 85in the manner before described, thus permitting the arms 50 that supportthe shock forming plates to descend and as they descend the shockforming plates will be tilted outwardly away from each other to releasefrom the shock which drops to the ground. The hinged leaves 87 will beautomatically released at the commencement of this downward movement.Then as soon as the frame that carries the shock forming blades hasreached its lower limit of move ment the segmental sprocket wheel willengage the chain 76 and the carriage supporting the frame of the shockformer will jointly with the sprocket wheel 7 0 move rearwardly andupwardly on the track 61. lVhen near the rear end of the frame, theroller 66 will strike the lug 83 and the further movement of the shockformer will cause the sprocket wheel 70 to turn a part revolution andengage the portion of the sprocket chain 7 6 that moves forwardly and atthe same time, the rollers 63 will engage the elevated track 80, then asthe carriage moves forwardly and downwardly on the track 61, the frameof the carriage that supports the shock forming plates will moveforwardly, but not downwardly, as rapidly as the carriage, thus movingthe guide brackets 51 to the top of their guide arms. Then when thecarriage bearing the hook 92 reaches its forward limit of movement, itwill rock the shaft 90 as required to elevate the leaves 87 to position.The pointed rod 94 automatically prevents any bundles from reaching theplatform 42 during the time that the leaves 87 are dropped.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States, therefor is 1. In a grain shocker,the combination of a bundle receiving platform, a chute adjacent to theplatform and extended forwardly, laterally and then rearwardly and meansactuated by the advance of the machine for forcing bundles of grain fromthe platform through said chute.

2. In a grain shocker, the combination of a bundle receiving platform, achute adjacent to the platform and extended forwardly, laterally,upwardly and then rearwardly and means actuated by the advance of themachine for forcing bundles of grain from the platform through saidchute.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a bundlereceiving platform a chute extending forwardly, laterally, upwardly andrearwardly from the platform, said chute formed with slots therein,tines projected through said slots to engage bundles and means actuatedby the advance of the machine for moving said tines along said slots.

4:. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a traction wheel, ashaft operated by the traction wheel, a number of arms hinged thereto,tines on said arms, a stationary guide to be engaged by said arms, abundle receiving platform a chute connecting therewith, said chuteformed with slots to receive said tines and said guide holding the tinesin said slots.

5. In a machine of the class described, a tilting platform, means fordepositing bundles of grain on said plat-form, means actuated by theadvance of the machine for elevating said platform, a trigger to beengaged by a bundle on the platform for releasing the mechanism forelevating the platform and spring actuated means for returning theplatform.

6. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a traction wheel, aratchet wheel rotated by the traction wheel, a tilting platform, atoothed arm for elevating the platform, a trigger projecting through theplatform to be engaged by a bundle thereon for moving the toothed arminto engagement with the said ratchet wheel, means for holding thetoothed arm in engagement with the ratchet wheel for a part of therevolution of said ratchet wheel, a spring for removing the toothed armout of engagement with the ratchet wheel and a spring for returning theplatform.

7 In a machine of the class described, the combination of a tiltingplatform, upright sides adjacent to the platform and yielding bundleholders connected with said upright sides.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a tiltingplatform, upright sides adjacent to the platform and hinged leavesconnected with said upright sides.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a tiltingplatform, upright sides adjacent to the platform and spring actuatedhinged leaves connected With said upright sides.

10. In a machine of the class described, a platform, stationary uprightsides adjacent to the platform, yielding bundle holders connected withsaid stationary sides, hinged upright leaves at the ends of thestationary sides and springs for normally holding said leaves inclinedtoward each other.

11. The combination of a machine frame, hinged shock supporting leaves,a tilting platform, upright sides adjacent to the tilting platform andmeans actuated by a move ment of the shock supporting leaves forretaining bundles between the upright sides.

12. The combination of a machine frame, hinged shock supporting leaves,a tilting platform, upright sides adjacent to the tilting platform, anarm connected with one of the hinged leaves and a pointed rod pivoted tosaid arm and designed to be projecting through one of the upright sideswhen the leaf to which it is connected is in its lowered position.

13. The combination of a withdrawable shock supporting platform, springactuated shock forming plates above the platform and means for movingsaid plates jointly downward toward the ground as the shock supportingplatform has been withdrawn.

14. The combination of two shock supporting leaves hinged at their sidesand capable of swinging downwardly away from each other, yielding shockforming plates above said leaves and means for jointly moving saidplates downwardly when the leaves are dropped to deposit a shock uponthe ground surface.

15. In a machine of the class described, a number of shock formingplates arranged substantially in circular form, an independent yieldingpressure device for each plate normally holding them toward a commoncenter and means for jointly moving said plates downwardly.

16. In a machine of the class described, a number of shock formingplates, arranged substantially in circular form, an independent yieldingpressure device for each plate normally holding them toward a commoncenter, means for jointly moving said plates downwardly and means forspreading said plates apart as they approach their downward limit ofmovement.

17. In a machine of the class described, a number of shock formingplates arranged substantially in circular form, an independent yieldingpressure device for each plate normally holding them toward a commoncenter, means for jointly moving said plates downwardly, means forspreading said plates apart as they approach their downward limit ofmovement and means for jointly moving said plates upwardly andrearwardly after they have reached their downward limit of movement.

18. In a machine of the class described, a number of shock formingplates arranged substantially in circular form, an independent yieldingpressure device for each plate normally holding them toward a commoncenter, means for jointly moving said plates downwardly, means forspreading said plates apart as they approach their downward limit ofmovement, means for jointly moving said plates upwardly and rearwardlyafter they have reached their downward limit of movement and means forreturning said plates to position adjacent to a common center.

19. The combination of a guide arm, a guide bracket slidingly mountedthereon, a spring actuated arm connected with the guide bracket and ashock forming plate connected with the said arm.

20. The combination of a guide arm extended downwardly and outwardly, aguide bracket slidingly mounted thereon, a spring actuated arm connectedwith the guide bracket, a shock forming plate carried by said arm andmeans for moving the guide bracket up and down on the guide rod tothereby move the lower end of the spring actuated arm inwardly andoutwardly.

21. The combination of a number of guide arms arranged in substantiallycircular form and extended downwardly and outwardly, guide bracketsmounted thereon, spring actuated arms connected with the guide brackets,shock forming plates carried by said arms and means for jointly movingsaid guide brackets up and down on the guide arms to thereby move theshock forming plates to and from a common center.

22. The combination of a carriage, a number of shock forming platessupported by the carriage and movable up and down relative to thecarriage, means for forcing said plates apart as they are moveddownwardly from the carriage and for forcing them together after theyare moved upwardly, a track for the carriage extending upwardly andrearwardly, means for conveying the carriage upwardly and rearwardly onsaid track and means for elevating the said plates relative to thecarriage as it is moved forwardly on said track.

23. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a carriage,a number of shock forming plates supported by the carriage, an armconnected with the shock forming plates to move them toward each otheras the arm is elevated relative to the carriage, a track for supportingthe carriage inclined upwardly and rearwardly, means for moving thecarriage upwardly and rearwardly on said track and means forautomatically engaging the said arm and moving it forwardly at the sametime the carriage-is moved forwardly and downwardly to thereby elevatesaid arm relative to the carriage.

24:. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a carriage,a number of shockforming plates supported by the carriage, an armslidingly mounted in the carriage, means actuated by said arm for movingthe shock forming plates to and from each other, a second track, meanson said arm for engaging the second track, means for jointly moving thecarriage and the said arm upwardly and rearwardly on the first track andmeans for automatically supporting the arm on the second track and formoving it forwardly while the carriage returns on the first track tothereby elevate the arm relative to the carriage.

25. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a carriage,an upright supported by the carriage, a number of shock forming platesconnected to said upright, means for moving said plates toward eachother as the upright is elevated relative to the carriage and forforcing said plates apart as the upright is lowered relative to thecarriage, an inclined track for the carriage, a sprocket chain travelingparallel with the inclined track, means for releasing the said uprightto permit it to drop by gravity, a device carried by the upright forengaging the said sprocket chain when the upright is dropped, means forreleasing said device from the chain when it approaches the rear end ofsaid track, a roller on the upright, a second track formed with a switchpoint to be engaged by said roller, said second track diverging from thefirst to elevate the said upright relative to the carriage as thecarriage moves forwardly on its track.

26. The combination of a machine frame, hinged shock supporting leaves,a series of shock forming plates, means for supporting the shock formingplates in an elevated po- 10 sition, means for jointly releasing theshock forming plates and the said leaves and means for automaticallyreturning the shock forming plates to position and for elevating theshock supportlng leaves.

Des Moines, Iowa, March 21, 1905.

JOHN MCCORMICK.

Witnesses:

G. H. BROWN, 0. D. HENJUM.

